Health and agriculture experts have called on the Federal Government to urgently ban Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and glyphosate in Nigeria, warning that their continued use poses serious health and environmental risks to the population.
The call was made during a sensitisation workshop held in Abuja with members of the press. At the event, experts raised concerns about the health and socioeconomic implications of importing, cultivating, and consuming genetically modified foods in the country.
Speaking at the workshop, Professor Qrisstuberg Amua, Executive Director of the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), highlighted growing global concerns about GMOs and glyphosate.
He cited evidence from the United States linking the widespread use of these products to a sharp rise in chronic health conditions since the 1990s.
According to Prof. Amua, the increase in diseases such as gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, autism, infertility, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease appears to correlate with the growing presence of GMOs and glyphosate in food and the environment.
While he acknowledged that factors like increased life expectancy and better disease detection could play a role in the higher numbers, he emphasised that the dramatic surge in these health problems since the 1990s strongly suggests other underlying causes, including exposure to these substances.
Amua, a professor of inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry, stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to prioritise food safety and public health over corporate interests, warning that failure to act now could have long-term consequences for the nation’s well-being.
The experts urged policymakers, regulators, and the media to take more active roles in raising public awareness and enforcing stricter controls to prevent the widespread damage linked to GMO foods and glyphosate use.
“These trends necessitate rigorous, independent scientific research, particularly concerning endocrine disruption, cancer precursors, oxidative stress, gut microbiome, and the Cytochrome P450 pathways. Reduced fertility —as far back as 2001, GM Maize was fingered as a source of natural contraceptives.
“Cancer- proven research: Professor Seralini did a study on rats, which he fed GMO for a period, and they all developed cancerous tumours. It was taken down temporarily due to sponsored attacks from GM Companies, but eventually, it was republished and still stands to this day.
“Spontaneous Abortion and Infertility—Professor Emeritus Don Huber (USA) is a retired Purdue University professor with more than 40 years of experience as a plant pathologist, including work with the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and man-made biological threats. In an urgent letter to the U.S.,” he said.
Amua warned that beyond the serious health concerns, the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria could also have far-reaching economic and social consequences. He cautioned that GMOs may pave the way for large biotechnology corporations, such as Monsanto, to dominate the agricultural sector, potentially sidelining smallholder farmers and undermining traditional farming methods.
He further pointed out that Nigeria’s Seed Variety Act of 2021 puts small-scale farmers at risk, as it could expose them to legal action from powerful seed companies for saving, sharing, or replanting seeds without formal permission. This, he said, threatens the livelihoods of rural farmers and the nation’s food sovereignty.
CEFSAR boss said many countries, including Angola, Bhutan, and several European nations, have implemented bans on GMOs due to health, environmental, and socio-economic concerns.
“South Africa’s recent Supreme Court decision to reverse the approval of a GMO maize variety
underscores the importance of rigorous risk assessment and due diligence in decision-making
processes.
“In conclusion, I pray you to consider the potential risks and implications of GMOs and prioritise the health, environment, and economic well-being of Nigeria and its people. Please use your esteemed office, sir, to ban GMOs and Glyphosate in Nigeria, so we can protect ourselves, our children, and our loved ones from untold pain, suffering, hardship, and misery,” he added.
Dr. Segun Adebayo, of the Centre for African Policy Research and Advisory, stressed that Nigeria must impose an immediate and total ban on the importation and cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) until a thorough, independent national study is conducted to assess the extent of their presence in the country.
GMOs are not just an agricultural issue—they are a matter of national security. Countries like the United States and the Soviet Union have historically explored anti-crop weapons, where genetically modified pathogens could be introduced to sabotage food production.
“Nigeria’s dependence on foreign corporations like Bayer Crop Science (formerly Monsanto) for food security is extremely dangerous. If GMOs are being engineered to make Nigerian crops vulnerable to external factors, we could face an engineered famine—one that would look like a natural disaster but would be a planned act of war.
“The unregulated importation of GMOs into Nigeria, pushed by foreign biotech interests, is a national security loophole that must be closed immediately. Until a comprehensive, independent national study determines the level of GMO penetration in Nigeria, an immediate and absolute ban on both the importation and cultivation of GMOs must be enforced.
“Any country that does not control its own food sovereignty is vulnerable to external manipulation. The reckless approval of GMOs in Nigeria, without proper risk assessment, has created a security loophole that could be exploited by foreign powers for agricultural sabotage. This is not just about food—it is about survival,” Adebayo stated
